Amazon is looking to release an iPad 2 rival in the second half of 2011, with the e-tailer putting in a massive OEM order to Quanta Computers.

This is according to DigiTimes who notes that the new device is likely to come with Fringe Field Switching (FFS) technology and and electrophoretic display (EPD) and will have its touchscreen created by E Ink Holdings.

As all of these technologies are pointing to another (possibly colour and definitely touchscreen) e-reader launch, it will be interesting to see if this is a true rival to the iPad 2.

According to the report, 700,000-800,000 monthly units have been ordered and should be shipping in the latter half of 2011.

From e-reader to tablet

Amazon revolutionised the ebook market with the Amazon Kindle, which has been the company's best-selling device since launch.

But with all its success, the e-reader is no match for the iPad 2, so Amazon will be hoping its un-yet-named tablet will make a dent in the iPad's sales or at least more of an impression that the Galaxy Tab and other rivals.

Alongside the tablet's launch it is thought that Amazon will reduce the price of the Kindle.

For Quanta, the order is a huge money maker. DigiTimes believes that the contracts could be worth as much as £2 billion.

Via DigiTimes

http://www.techradar.com/news/portable- ... al--950790

There seems to be a fair bit of extrapolating from the original article there (and look at the state of it ), but I'd definitely consider a colour Kindle. Especially if it was cheap

I would consider a colour kindle for software manual pdfs. I might even consider buying ebooks. Though it will have nothing on the iPad. That is now a central part of my home entertainment.

I'd love a colour eBook, but for me it depends entirely on battery life. I won't buy a black and white one, but there's just no point in a colour one if the battery life is hardly better than an iPad. I want to be able to enjoy GNs in full colour for an entire holiday on one charge

However, if they're betting billions of dollars on the project then someone thinks it's gonna be good...

yes Kindles can be very good in the education sector. A colour one if it can do graphical novels will also have serious potential. If just colour text then that will be a hindrance. It all depends on the end product. Ultimately it will have a niche and if they try and describe it as a iPad killer or rival all it will do is show up its weaknesses.

So it looks like its a enhanced colour e-reader ala Kindle MAX
Which certain parts of the press will describe as an iPad killer, thus allowing them to completly dismiss it when its launched because it wont be an iPad killer as it wont be sharing the same niche.
Build them up to knock them down.

Have they actually got colour e-ink working properly yet? When I saw the early version about a year ago, the resolution was bloody awful.If they have, that would be a Really Cool Thing.

Jon